XN000022-1991-02-21 — Page 4

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991

THIS NEED FOR EQUITY IN TERMS OF ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WAS A BASIC CONCEPT SUPPORTED BY THE STUDY GROUP AT ITS MEETING TODAY, SHE SAID.

WITH THIS COMMITMENT IN MIND AND IN THE LIGHT OF RISING ASPIRATIONS FOR BETTER QUALITY MEDICAL SERVICES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE TO SEE HOW TO MAKE THE BRST USK OF RESOURCES, SHE SAID.

"WE WILL HAVE TO CATER TO THE NERDS BROUGHT ABOUT BY A CHANGING DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN, PARTICULARLY AN AGEING POPULATION, AND ALSO RISING ASPIRATION OF A MATURE AND AN AFFLUENT SOCIETY, AHR ADDED.

H

SHE ADDED THAT THE STUDY GROUP HAD NO PRECONCEPTION or WHAT SHOULD BE THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR HONG KONG.

"WE'VE GOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE IN THE STUDY GROUP WHO BRING TOGETHER A BROAD SPECTRUM OF EXPERTISE AND INTERESTS IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE,' SHE SAID.

SHE LOOKED FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE GROUP TO GENERATE AND DEVELOP OPTIONS. IN THIS CONTEXT, SHE WOULD ALSO WELCOME AND CONTRIBUTION FROM OTHER EXPERTS.

IDEAS VIEWS

OPERATION HOURS OF BRITISH NATIONALITY

SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE EXTENDED

*

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT'S SPECIAL HOTLINE FOR THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME (802 3300) WILL BE EXTENDING ITS OPERATION HOURS IN RESPONSE TO A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.

"A RECORD NUMBER OF 2,285 CALLS WAS RECEIVED YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AND ALL 10 LINES WERE JAMMED AT ONE STAGE, THE SPOKESMAN

SAID.

H

"IN VIEW OF THIS INCREASED DEMAND, THE HOTLINE SERVICE WILL EXTEND ITS OPERATIONAL HOURS TO BETWEEN 9 AM AND 10 PM, INCLUDING THS COMING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FROM TODAY UNTIL FBBRUARY

27,

SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE

"ON FEBRUARY 28

——

FOR THE LAST DAY

RECEIVING

APPLICATION

FORMS

-

THE HOTLINE WILL BE MANNED DURING OFFICE HOURS ONLY."

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A RECORD NUMBER OF SOME 5,900 APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE NATIONALITY SCHEME WAS COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS DISTRIBUTION CENTRES YESTERDAY.

/"BUT FEEDBACK